Saint Francis de Sales

Friendship requires great communication.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Hell is full of good intentions and wills.

— Saint Francis de Sales

You learn to love by loving.

— Saint Francis de Sales

I recommend to you holy simplicity.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Mount Calvary is the academy of love.

— Saint Francis de Sales

There is nothing small in the service of God.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Pride dies 20 minutes after death.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Be who you are and be that well.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.

— Saint Francis de Sales

It is a great imperfection to complain unceasingly of little things.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Provided that God be glorified, we must not care by whom.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Let God be the air in which your heart breathes at ease.

— Saint Francis de Sales

He who stays not in his littleness, loses his greatness.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.

— Saint Francis de Sales

Nothing is more like a wise man than a fool who holds his tongue.

— Saint Francis de Sales

It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.

— Saint Francis de Sales

We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our…

— Saint Francis de Sales

All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Do not desire crosses, unless you have borne well those laid on you; it is an abuse to long after martyrdom while…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Since God often sends us inspirations by means of His angels, we should frequently return our aspirations to him by means of…

— Saint Francis de Sales

One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.

— Saint Francis de Sales

So many have come to me that I might serve them, leaving me no time to think of myself. However, I assure…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.

— Saint Francis de Sales

The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled with passion…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Obedience is a consecration of the heart, chastity of the body, and poverty of all worldly goods to the Love and Service…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Oh what remorse we shall feel at the end of our lives, when we look back upon the great number of instructions…

— Saint Francis de Sales

The Prayer of the sick person is his patience and his acceptance of his sickness for the love of Jesus Christ. Make…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Represent to yourself a dark city all burning and stinking with fire and brimstone. The damned are in the depth of hell…

— Saint Francis de Sales

There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who…

— Saint Francis de Sales

O my child, bethink you that just as the bee, having gathered heaven's dew and earth's sweetest juices from amid the flowers,…

— Saint Francis de Sales

When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon…

— Saint Francis de Sales

A heart-memory is better than a mere head-memory. Better to carry away a little of the love of Christ in our souls,…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Consider the pains which martyrs have endured, and think how even now many people are bearing afflictions beyond all measure greater than…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Chastity is the lily of virtues, and makes men almost equal to Angels. Everything is beautiful in accordance with its purity. Now…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Don't sow your desires in someone else's garden; just cultivate your own as best you can; don't long to be other than…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is…

— Saint Francis de Sales

How are you to meet the swarm of foolish attachments, triflings, and undesirable inclinations which beset you? By turning sharply away, and…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Many great persons have been of opinion that love is no other thing than complacency itself, in which they have had much…

— Saint Francis de Sales

There are many who want me to tell them of secret ways of becoming perfect and I can only tell them that…

— Saint Francis de Sales

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up…

— Saint Francis de Sales